Amid the relative quietness of Hawaii’s political landscape, the most consequential election of this year is one over 5,000 miles away: the New York City mayoral race. It’s a three-man race among Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo who is running as an independent.
The following editorial was originally published in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Sunday, October 5th as part of the “Raise Your Hand” column in the Insight section.
By Kaitlyn Duropan, James Campbell High School Class of 2027
In October, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation greenlit the final segment of
the Skyline. While this marks a significant milestone in a project that has spanned well over a
decade, it is overshadowed by the fact that the Skyline was unnecessary from the start.
Since the first segment opened in June of 2023, interest in the Skyline has been
underwhelming. In October of 2024, average daily ridership was about 3,530. While this
represents an improvement from 3,058 riders during the same period in 2023, it still falls far
short of the city’s target of 8,000 to 10,000 riders per day. According to the Honolulu
Department of Transportation Services, the Skyline carries only about 250 people per hour,
despite its capacity being 14 times that amount. Many people prefer using their own vehicles,
which offers more flexibility and eliminates the need to align their schedules with the rail.
Low ridership has added to the financial burden on residents. The construction of the
Skyline is expected to cost $10 billion, and its $85 million annual operating budget — covering
electricity, administrative and maintenance costs — is heavily subsidized by taxpayers. While
the fare is $3, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii estimates that without taxpayer subsidies, the real
cost per ride would be about $54. With Hawaii’s already high cost of living, the added financial
strain of maintaining a sparsely used rail system only exacerbates the burden on taxpayers.
Moreover, the rail is a project that residents never even wanted. A 2021 poll found that
the rail project was opposed by 53% of registered voters on Oahu, while just 34% supported it.
This means that the majority of taxpayers are now funding a project they didn’t approve of, and
with low ridership, they may face greater financial instability as the rail continues to operate at a
loss.
Supporters of the Skyline argue that the cost is justified by the quick transit it offers
across the island, but this is only true for the limited number of residents with access to the rail.
The Skyline is only accessible to those along parts of the south shore of Oahu, leaving the people
on the north shore — not to mention the neighbor islands — without access. Even along the
existing rail route, inadequate parking near stations has limited its usability.
Others may be indifferent about the project, viewing it as just another transportation
system in the country. However, in ancient Hawaiian culture, it was customary for the deceased
to be buried in unmarked graves to protect their spiritual power from being stolen. The first
human remains were found along the rail route in 2012, raising tensions between locals, the
government and the Honolulu Transportation Services Department. For many, the Skyline is not
just any other rail system in the country — it represents a disregard for Hawaii’s cultural heritage
and land.
As we acknowledge and even celebrate the forward movement on this long-delayed
project, the eventual completion — expected in 2031 — will bring a sigh of relief to the people
of Hawaii who have been enduring the saga for decades. However, it is important to reflect on
costly projects like this one that have limited value and fail to meet the needs of the people they
were intended to serve.
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